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Becoming a Student

Exams for College Credit

You can receive credit for many courses by passing college credit examinations. These examinations, which are available in numerous subject areas, provide an affordable way to receive college credit. The following programs are offered at HCC's Testing & Workforce Certification Center:

Do you have outside training or work skills equivalent to one of our courses? Taking an HCC Challenge Exam can reduce your courseload. A few things to know about Challenge Exams:

Credits earned through Challenge Exams are not transferrable to other institutions.

Exams are computer-based and have a time limit.

The cost for an exam is $35 (Payment is made in advance at the Student Accounts office. Please check their hours)

Exams are administered through the Testing Center in the Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development. To register for an exam, please fill out the appropriate form:

Visit our Testing Center page for descriptions of the courses that may be substituted by passing a Challenge Exam.

PLEASE NOTE: Effective July 1, 2018, the new CLEP exam fee will be $87. The current $85 fee will still apply to all exams purchased through June 30, 2018.CLEP testing will continue to be free for eligible military service members, spouses, and civilian employees (eligibility details).

You can earn college credit for what you have learned on the job or from life experience through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). These computer-based exams, which are offered at the HCC Testing & Workforce Certification Center, test your knowledge of introductory college-level subjects. By earning a satisfactory score, you earn the same amount of credit as a student who has successfully completed the same course at 2,900 colleges and universities across the country.

CLEP gives you the opportunity to earn college credit for what you already know. These exams test your knowledge of introductory college-level subjects.

For Holyoke Community College Students: HCC provides credit for successful scores on 30 CLEP exams. Please contact us for information on available exams. You will find exam descriptions, sample questions, and study guides here. View the HCC CLEP Course Equivalency Chart.

For Special AccommodationsFor special accommodations (documented), please contact the Testing Center to make arrangements well in advance of your test date.

How Do I Get Credit for CLEP?

When you create an account with CLEP at www.collegeboard.org/clep, select your score-recipient institution. An official score report will automatically be forwarded to your school recipient within 7-10 business days. You will receive a copy of your score for your records immediately after the examination, except for College Composition which takes 2-3 weeks and will be simultaneously mailed directly to the address you provided in your CLEP account and to your score-recipient institution. If you opt not to name your score recipient when creating your CLEP account and purchasing your exam from CLEP, you can request a transcript from CLEP at a later time for a $20 fee by calling 800.257.9558 or submitting the Transcript Request Form available here.

No cell phones, calculators, electronic devices of any kind. All watches, all bracelets, books, personal belongings, papers or food/drinks, etc. are allowed in the testing room. A light sweater or jacket is allowed, but you will be asked to turn it inside-out prior to entering the testing room. Secure lockers are available free of charge. Scratch paper, pencils, and earplugs are provided by the test center. Exams are 90 minutes long, except College Composition, which is two hours long.

CLEP for Active Military personnel

The HCC Testing & Workforce Certification Center is a fully-funded CLEP partner. Through this program, eligible DANTES-funded test takers attempting a test title for the first time will have their $85 exam fee funded by DANTES, and the testing center will waive the $35 registration fee.

Day of Testing: Please bring your CLEP ticket and two valid forms of ID (your valid military ID and a government-issued photo/signature ID i.e. driver's license or passport)

For Special Accommodations

For special accommodations (documented), please contact the Testing Center to make arrangements well in advance of your test date.

How Do I Get Credit for CLEP?

When you create an account with CLEP at www.collegeboard.org/clep, select your school recipient. An official score report will automatically be forwarded to your school recipient within 7-10 business days. You will receive a copy of your score for your records immediately after the examination, except for College Composition which takes 2-3 weeks and will be simultaneously mailed directly to the address you provided in your CLEP account and to your score-recipient institution. If you opt not to name your score recipient when creating your CLEP account and purchasing your exam from CLEP, you can request a transcript from CLEP at a later time for a $20 fee by calling 800.257.9558 or submitting the Transcript Request Form available here.

I'm Ready to Take a CLEP Exam. What Do I Do?

Please go to www.collegeboard.org/clep to create your account, order your exam, and select you score recipients. Please print your CLEP ticket and bring it with you to your CLEP test appointment.

How Do I Schedule My CLEP Exam Appointment at the Test Center?

The HCC Testing & Workforce Certification Center is a fully-funded CLEP partner. Thus, both the $85 exam fee due to DSST and the $35 proctoring fee due to HCC are waived.

No cell phones, calculators, electronic devices of any kind. All watches, all bracelets, books, personal belongings, papers or food/drinks, etc. are allowed in the testing room. A light sweater or jacket is allowed, but you will be asked to turn it inside-out prior to entering the testing room. Secure lockers are available free of charge. Scratch paper, pencils, and earplugs are provided by the test center. Exams are 90 minutes long, except College Composition, which is two hours long.

Test Center Hours

Parking

Please park your vehicle in Lot D. If the gate to Lot D is closed you can access it via Lot E. Please click here to access directions to our campus and a campus map.

Always check with your academic advisor or registrar to determine which CLEP exam is right for you!

The nationally-recognized DSST program allows you to receive college credits for learning acquired outside the traditional classroom. DSST exams offer students a cost-effective, time-saving way to use their life experiences and knowledge to accomplish their educational goals. Currently, there are almost 2,000 colleges and universities that recognize the DSST program and award college credit for passing scores.